Senate vote angers family members, groups

Published 11:35 pm, Wednesday, April 17, 2013

NEWTOWN -- Disappointment. Anger. And a vow to keep fighting for common-sense gun-control legislation that could reduce the chances of more tragedies like the one at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Those were the reactions of individuals and organizations in Newtown to Wednesday's failure in the U.S. Senate of a bill that would have expanded background checks for firearms buyers, despite reported support from a strong majority of citizens. Measures to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines also failed.

"Ninety percent of Americans don't agree on what type of ice cream they like, but they agree on background checks," she said. "These senators were voted into office to represent the people, but what they are really doing is representing their pockets."

"You can't print what I'm thinking," said Dave Ackert, founder of the Newtown Action Alliance, a grass-roots organization formed after the Dec. 14 school shooting to lobby for stronger gun laws.

"Obviously, we are furious," said Ackert. "We're ashamed at how the world is looking at us, and we're scratching our heads at who these guys represent."

"This fight isn't over. We're not going away," said Carlee Soto, whose sister, first-grade teacher Vicki Soto, was one of the six staff members and 20 first-graders who were murdered, said.

Newtown pediatrician Dr. Laura Nowacki, a member of United Physicians of Newtown, was "sickened" with disappointment for the parents of the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting who worked for strengthened gun laws.

"Instead of grieving, they've given all their energy to being at Capitol Hill for the past two weeks," Nowacki said.

The families of several of the victims attended the White House news conference at which President Barack Obama lambasted the minority of senators who kept the background checks from passing.

"At any instant, any dad in America could be in my shoes," said Mark Barden, whose son, Daniel, was one of the Sandy Hook victims. "We're disappointed, but not defeated."

"Obviously, it's disappointing, but were going to keep on working," said James Belden, of Sandy Hook Promise, whose members lobbied lawmakers.

Like the others, Lafferty said her fight is far from over.

"There are senators who are working vigorously to get another amendment on the table," she said. "And I am anxious and ready to rally when that happens."